Support From Migrant Children and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults in Transnational Families

Abstract

International migration creates important consequences both for migrants and the family members they leave behind. Prior research has noted not only the adverse effects of children’s migration on parents’ mental health but also the fact that family ties and closeness can persist because of supportive exchange despite geographical distances. This study examined the associations between economic and emotional support from migrant children living abroad and depressive symptoms among Chinese elders in transnational families and whether such associations were moderated by the elders’ physical health status and the presence of children remaining in China. The data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 293 older Chinese in transnational families in Beijing, China. The results of linear regression show that more emotional support from migrant children was associated with lower depressive symptoms among these elders. The association between emotional support and depressive symptoms was stronger among the elders who did not have children remaining in China and who had functional limitations. The findings suggest that maintaining emotionally supportive relationships with their migrant children abroad may help to prevent depressive symptoms among these elders, especially among the older adults who have functional limitations and who have no children remaining in the home country.

Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China

“…Consistent with the second hypothesis, urban but not rural participants receiving emotional support from adult children had fewer depressive symptoms, and a higher percent of urban participants reported receiving sufficient intergenerational emotional support than rural participants. This significance of emotional support from adult children corresponds with previous studies on older Chinese citizens ( 4 , 39 ) and older adults (including Chinese immigrants) in developed countries ( 28 , 29 , 35 ). With economic function detached from modern families, intergenerational relationships are less structurally defined and more personal ( 18 ), and emotional ties are based more on “verbal communication, understanding, sharing thoughts, and showing feelings” ( 40 ).…”

“…For example, with older participants from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, researchers found that financial but not emotional support from adult children predicted fewer depressive symptoms (27). In contrast, with participants from urban China, emotional but not financial support from adult children predicted fewer depressive symptoms in old age (4). Other studies in Japan and Spain found that both emotional and instrumental support from adult children was linked to fewer depressive symptoms (28, 29).…”

“…Intergenerational support is a well-documented protective factor against depression in old age (1,2), and this protective effect also holds true in China (3)(4)(5). During the last several decades, uneven development in China has led to great urban-rural disparities in economics, industries, living standard, and even social norms (6)(7)(8).…”

Achieving Health Equity in Asian Populations

“…Regarding psychological well-being, the included six articles detail the potential risk factors and impacts of psychological distress among global Chinese populations and challenge our assumptions about how individual and familial factors relate to psychological distress and well-being in immigrant populations. Specifically, different forms of psychological distress may have negative impacts of cognitive function ( Y. Chen, Wang, Liang, Sun, & Dong, 2018 ; Kong, Davitt, & Dong, 2018 ), but psychological distress may be buffered by individual, social, and familial resources for both Chinese in China and in the United States ( Chao, Zhang, & Dong, 2018 ; M. Li & Dong, 2018 ; Liu et al, 2018 ; Wang & Dong, 2018 ). In addition, articles in this issue examine how neighborhood and community may impact minority immigrant older adult populations.…”

“…Chen, Wang, Liang, Sun, & Dong, 2018; Kong, Davitt, & Dong, 2018), but psychological distress may be buffered by individual, social, and familial resources for both Chinese in China and in the United States (Chao, Zhang, & Dong, 2018; M. Li & Dong, 2018; Liu et al, 2018; Wang & Dong, 2018). In addition, articles in this issue examine how neighborhood and community may impact minority immigrant older adult populations.…”